Odisha: Two Teachers Die During Census Duty Amid Rising Temperatures

Two school teachers engaged in Census work in Odisha have died within a span of two days, allegedly due to heatstroke, raising concerns over working conditions amid rising temperatures, officials said on Monday.

The incidents were reported from Mayurbhanj district and Sundargarh district, where temperatures have crossed 37°C. This marks the third such death linked to Census duty in the state.

In Mayurbhanj, Rajkapur Hembram, a teacher at Baidyanath High School under Betnoti block, died on Sunday evening while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Baripada. According to his nephew Laxmikant Hembram, he lost consciousness after returning from door-to-door Census enumeration and was rushed to the hospital.

Headmistress Mamata Das said Hembram had complained of discomfort after completing his fieldwork. “He was admitted to the hospital but could not survive. He had been assigned three villages for enumeration,” she said. Family members alleged that he had informed colleagues earlier about feeling unwell but continued working due to pressure from authorities.

In a separate incident in Sundargarh, Anurag Ekka, a teacher at Jarada Government High School under Gurundia block, fell ill during Census duty on Saturday and died later the same day. He was initially taken to a community health centre and later shifted to the district headquarters hospital as his condition deteriorated.

Officials from the Special Relief Commissioner’s Office said district collectors have been asked to investigate the incidents, adding that the exact cause of death will be determined after detailed reports are received.

Earlier, an enumerator in Sonepur district had also died, allegedly due to a heart attack after returning from Census duty, according to an official communication issued on April 21.

In response, the state government has issued a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Census officials working in extreme heat conditions. The guidelines prohibit fieldwork between 11 am and 3 pm and advise personnel to stay hydrated and carry Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) while on duty.